Where does the heat sneak into your home?

Share this story

TRI-CITIES, Wash. -- The thermostat has pushed back up over 100. Your electric meter many be spinning pretty quickly. KEPR looked at ways you can keep this heat out of your house. We learned the likely culprits that drive up your bill in tonight's big story.

"A little bit here, a little bit there, all those things adds up," said the Production Manager for Campbell and Company, Chris Quinton.

Especially when it comes to your power bill. Quinton knows the tricks to sealing up your home. He says one of the main places for air to leak out is right at the main AC unit.

"We're actually pushing air that we're paying to ventilate, to the outside!"

He says this leakage also allows hot air to enter your house in places like window cracks. To fix this, Chris says to silicone the joints together by using a caulking gun.

Another problematic spot was a hole on the wall in the garage where someone started a remodeling project but never finished it. Yet another spot that could drive up your bill year-round.

"It would be a good opportunity to seal this off," said Quinton.

Next we moved to the attic.

"There's a substantial crack right here," he said.

And that crack is detrimental. The attic was 114 degrees. At the hottest point of the day, it could reach 140 degrees. Stopping that warmth from pushing to the cool areas could be done with a weatherstripping lining.

Another issue with this attic is exposed ductwork.

"We like to see this installation totally covering the ductwork," said Quinton.

And when we left the attic, Chris showed KEPR some other spots you might not think to caulk. Such as under light fixtures, vents, and receptacles. The home we were was in need of a two dollar tube of caulk.

"It's kind of like counting your change jar if you had a piggy bank. By the time you pick up all those nickels and dimes, it really starts to add up. This is over years and years and years. It's over the life of your home," he said.

Campbell and Company says it is best to hire a professional to check for leaks and see if you are maximizing your central air. But fixing those leaks are doable on your own.